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Autonomous Heavy-Duty Trucks Begin Highway Testing in California Under New DMV Rules

Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI have secured regulatory approval to test their autonomous truck technology on California public roads, ending a long-standing restriction on heavy commercial autonomous vehicles in the state.

What Happened

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) approved permits allowing both Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI to begin testing autonomous heavy-duty vehicles on public roadways. Kodiak has already initiated road trials using a small fleet of test trucks concentrated near its Mountain View facility.

These approvals follow regulatory adjustments enacted on April 28, which formally eliminated a prior prohibition on testing driverless vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds on public roads. According to the DMV, both firms satisfied the mandated requirements regarding vehicle registration, insurance coverage, general safety protocols, and the qualifications of human safety drivers.

Under the issued permits, vehicles must maintain a qualified human safety operator behind the wheel at all times. Additionally, the autonomous trucks are barred from driving on streets with posted speed limits of 25 miles per hour or lower, except when traveling on a direct route between intended destinations.

Key Highlights

  • Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI received official testing permits from the California DMV for autonomous heavy-duty vehicles.
  • Updated state regulations approved on April 28 lifted the prohibition on testing driverless vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.
  • Permit conditions mandate a human safety driver behind the wheel and restrict operations on roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less unless traversing a direct route.
  • Kodiak has already begun testing a small number of autonomous trucks around its Mountain View location.
  • Teamsters California filed a legal challenge against the DMV in Alameda County Superior Court, citing safety concerns and economic assessment failures.
  • Both companies previously prioritized commercial and testing operations in Texas due to California’s former testing ban.

Why This Matters

The rule change creates an official legal pathway for autonomous vehicle developers to test and ultimately deploy heavy commercial trucks in California. Because California previously prohibited testing vehicles over 10,000 pounds, both California-based developers conducted their initial operations in other regions, primarily Texas.

Aurora launched a commercial self-driving truck service in Texas in May 2025, operating between Dallas and Houston, before expanding to corridors such as Fort Worth to El Paso, El Paso to Phoenix, Fort Worth to Phoenix, and Laredo to Dallas. Kodiak started commercial driverless operations in January 2025 in an off-road setting within West Texas’ Permian Basin, later extending into highway runs including a route connecting Dallas and Houston. The revised DMV rules now allow these firms to conduct testing in their home state.

However, the shift has generated significant opposition. Teamsters California recently filed a lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court, alleging that the DMV failed to examine and disclose potential economic consequences and neglected motorist safety risks prior to approving the rules.

What to Watch Next

Observers will monitor the progress of Kodiak’s active trials near Mountain View alongside any upcoming on-road testing by Aurora Innovation. Furthermore, the outcome of the lawsuit brought by Teamsters California against the DMV in the Alameda County Superior Court will determine whether the regulatory framework faces legal hurdles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary rules for testing self-driving trucks in California?

The permits require a licensed human safety operator behind the wheel at all times. The trucks are also prohibited from operating on roads with speed limits of 25 mph or below, unless traveling on a direct route between destinations.

Why were Aurora and Kodiak testing in Texas prior to this decision?

California previously barred driverless vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds from testing on its public roads, prompting both companies to establish their initial testing and commercial routes in Texas.

Why is Teamsters California suing the state DMV?

Teamsters California filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court claiming that the DMV failed to analyze and publicly share the economic impacts of autonomous trucks and did not sufficiently evaluate safety risks to other drivers.

Source: Reported by TechCrunch.